720 Reviews - can anyone offer one?

[beginnersluke]

I'm looking into getting a 720.

Anyone have thoughts or experience with these. They seem pretty rare, but those who have played them seem to take quite a liking to them.

Any info is helpful. I'm trying to decide if I really want to spend the money on this right now, since I can live without it, but I do want it.

Thanks!

[pianotuner steveo]

Great piano, but more of a home model. I had one once. Great action. Same as 140 series. Mine needed a new volume pot because it had excessive hum- that's all it was.
Can I ask how much they are asking for it?

[lowerlightsmusic]

I have a 720A that I found a thrift store years ago.  Like Steve said, it is a home model, and not suitable for gigging unless you are a rock star and can afford roadies.  I think the sound is deeper and richer than a 200.  For awhile I had both in the same room, so it was easy to compare.  The tremolo in particular seems different from a 200...somehow more 3-D.  That could be due to the larger 12" speaker.  I did feel like the 200 "barked" more, and at times cut through a rock band mix a little better. 

I attempted to do some light repair work, but ultimately took it to Chicago Electric Piano for a tune-up.  I decided the 720 is a keeper, and I wanted to someone with a lot of experience to really dial it in.  I'm hoping to pick it up in a few weeks. 

If you can pick up a 720 for a reasonable price, I think they are well worth owning. 

[DocWurly]

Are you considering a 720, or a 720A, or a 720B?  The three are different.

720:  Console version of a 145, from mid 1962-til-63.  This means it has a tube amp, and it uses the 1950's-style reeds on all but the lowest 20 notes (which use a sort of proto-200 bass reed, but seemingly made of a different, springier steel).  What is distinctive about it, soundwise, compared to a 145, is the big, bassy 12" speaker.  So it puts out a nice amount of bass.

720A: Console version of a 145A, from later 1963-til mid '64.  Same tube amp as above. The main difference from the 720 is that it uses the later 200-style reeds (or a proto version of them). It will have a problem, unless the problem has been corrected:  Bad reed screws that will crack and therefore make reeds buzz and not sustain.  You can replace these with the later reed screws, but this will mean having to re-tune all the notes south about 30 cents.  (You can also find decent "correct" replacement screws if you are clever about it.)  This one, too, puts out a nice amount of bass--a big 12" speaker.

720B:  Console version of a 140B, from late 1964-7 (or maybe as late as early '68).  So this one is solid state, and uses the 140B amp.  Usually (always?) the reed screw problem has been corrected. Unlike the two upper models, this has a less impressive 6" x 9" speaker. (same size speaker as in a 140B, from what I can gather).  Basically, this is a pretty, un-portable 140B.

All three of these have an electronic on/on "soft" pedal.  I think that's a rather silly feature.

Any of these will have amps that are likely to need an overhaul, or outright replacement.  The transformers tend to go on them.  Do NOT leave them on when you aren't playing them.